Dad Update!

As many of you know, Dad has been back in the hospital since last Tuesday. The infection he had during his first stay is back. They thought they knew what it was and were treating it accordingly, however once he returned home, he started to get very sick again - just like in the days following surgery before he ended up in ICU.

He returned once to the ER with concern that it was just the picc line that was infected. The line was checked and he was sent home. They returned to the ER last Tuesday and were admitted. It seems that the picc line was infected and the original infection in the blood was still present.

They have done new cultures on the blood infection. They thought they had identified the infection and started to treat it with a new drug. Within 48 hours the culture had grown into something new, so they changed to yet another new drug today. Only time will tell if the culture will continue to grow.

We really do want him to come home, but not until the infection has been clearly identified and there is a clear course of treatment. Please continue to pray that these things will work out soon. He has been in the hospital 27 days total and he is a little stir crazy.

We all appreciate your prayers so much. I'm sorry I've been a little out of touch. I returned from New Orleans and went to Houston to be with Mom and Dad. I just got to their house in Nederland tonight and I'll be here or back and forth to Houston for a while. Dad has read all of your sweet facebook notes and we are still getting many of your cards in the mail. As I have said before, we have faith for Dad's complete healing. This has been quite a journey.

Sidenote: Great trip Amy and Christa - more NOLA pics soon.

More New Orleans and Dad Update

After our plantation tours we had to go back to the hotel to rest. Later we visited a New Orleans classic, Cafe Du Monde for coffee and beignets. They were wonderful!

After Cafe Du Monde we took a carriage ride. Our driver was named Louis and his horse was Onyx, both were characters. Onyx has a habit of stepping out in front of moving cars. Lets just say it was an interesting ride.

Tuesday we visited the National WWII Museum and then road the famous St, Charles Street Trolley through the Garden District. We ended the day with a seafood dinner at Bubba Gump, one of our favorite places.

Today we traveled to Avery Island to tour the Tabasco plant and drive through the Jungle Gardens. I'll post pictures of the past two days soon. We head back to Dallas tomorrow.

My dad is back in the hospital in Houston. He has more than one infection that they are treating. Mom is there with him. Please pray that they will be able to return home soon.

Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Christa, Amy and I arrived in New Orleans yesterday. We headed to Mulate's for dinner and to listen to the live band!

This morning we drove over to Oak Alley Plantation for a tour. The home has been featured in many movies and on a few TV shows.

This is the view from the veranda.


Cooling down with some Mint Juleps!

Next, we toured the Laura Plantation. This was a Creole plantation. Both Laura and Oak Alley were sugar cane plantations.


I love the glass bottles at the base of this tree. It's a cool idea for flower beds.

Ups and Downs.

Dad came home from MD Anderson last Wed. He will be on IV drug therapy for 3 weeks. He has a picc line in his arm for this. Mom as been trained to administer the drug twice daily. This morning my mom noticed that the line looked infected. They are now back in the ER at MD Anderson. Please pray that this can be resolved and that they can go back to Nederland tonight.

I just got back to Dallas yesterday afternoon. I have a trip planned for this week and then I will go back to Nederland and just plan to stay for the summer if I need to do so.

Pray for my mom and she is handling all of this herself. It's going to be a rough week for her.

Singing His Praises All The Day Long!

We are praising the Lord tonight. Dad is out of ICU and in a regular room. He is doing much better. We can't not thank you all enough for all of love and support and most of all for your heartfelt prayers.

I was reminded this week by one of Dad's doctors that "There has to be a test to have a testimony." What a great testimony our family has always had and even more so now.

Please continue to pray for complete healing. He is still very weak. He is having to adjust to real food seeing as he has been fed through IV for the last week. The infection is still draining from the abdomen and that situation will have to improve. He is also having to adjust to some new medications with several side effects.

I wanted to post earlier today, but I couldn't get a connection at the hospital today?? Sorry for this being so late.

With Love and Appreciation,
Betsy

News!

Dad had a good day today. The took him off the vent and took the breathing tube out. He woke up and stayed awake talking to us most of the day. His kidneys are still working and there will be more answers about the infection in the abdomen when we speak with his team of doctors in the morning. He is still a little confused about what all has occurred, but who wouldn't be? Please continue to pray for the doctors as they come up with a plan to treat this infection and it's cause. Please pray that the kidneys will continue to function and that his lungs will improve. Also pray that he will continue to rest and have peace of mind.

Thank you so much for your continued prayer and support of our family.

Weekend Update!

My has written a letter to the church family that is posted on the church website and Steffi also posted it on Facebook. We are not expecting any changes through the weekend. We are thankful that he is able to rest. We hope to see the team of doctors again Monday morning and move forward.

Please continue to share this blog site and the church website with those who are praying and wanting updates. Steffi and I are also trying to post on Facebook daily. If you are a member of a church please continue to ask your church family to pray as well. We love and appreciate each of you.

Procter Baptist Website
www.procterbaptisthome.org

Update on Dad!

He has had some improvement today. He has a small amount of urine output which shows us that the kidneys are trying to work.

They are taking him down to drain the fluid of the abdomen this afternoon.

He is less agitated so his heart rate has come down, it goes too high when he gets upset. There has been a change in shift here for the weekend and the new nurses and aides are really getting along with him well. I this is also helping the agitation today.

He has had some periods of rest, not exactly sleep, but rest with eyes closed. Probably about 2 hours total, off and on.


Thank you Lord for these improvements. I've also noticed that my mom seems better today I know it's the encouragement of these changes.

His breathing is a little worse, they are giving him treatments more often. He still needs SLEEP! Our hope is that they will be able to treat infection and the abdominal fluid - And of course that the Kidneys will continue to improve. He will have dialysis again tomorrow, he didn't have it today which could be why he is less agitated.

Steffi stayed with him last night and they had a really BAD night, she was a mess when I picked her up this morning. But things seem to be going better today. I don't know why it is that when you are sick they nights are worse?? Mom or I will stay tonight, Pray that the night is better.

Thank you all again so much. I know you will all encourage your churches to continue praying. Your prayers and encouragement are keeping us going. We love you. Please pass the blog address along to anyone who is praying and wants updates.

Thank You

Thanks to everyone who participated in the special prayer time for dad last night. Steffi and I were able to go in and pray with him just before 6pm. We are working with Drs from a new department today. He had another 3 hours of dialysis today and I think they are planing for more tomorrow if his numbers don't improve. I've been told that the hospital patient advocate is planning a family meeting with all of us and the main ICU Dr. I hope that will happen sometime today. Please continue to pray for rest. He has had about 3 hours of sleep total in the last 2 1/2 days. They cannot give him anything to help due to blood pressure. I needs sleep. I know it would help his body heal. That is our main prayer focus today.

Again, Thanks to all of you who prayed last night and are still praying. We received messages from churches in Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Alabama and Texas that were praying for him. Mom and Steffi and I really felt all of your prayers. While Steffi and prayer over him he was calm (which he had not been all day). Thanks again, we love all of you. We will stay in touch.

After today my mom will turn the power off on my dad's cell phone, it's just too hard to keep up with two phone and keep them both charged. Tonja will have updates at the church office 409 722 8097. Steffi and I will be updating facebook and blogs.

Special Prayer Time for my dad.

My dad has been in part time ministry since 1965 and a full time pastor since 1969. I know over the years he and mom, and Steffi and me too have been so blessed with Christian families through out churchs We really do consider all of the people in these churches family.

I will not lie, things do not look good here. Last night at the hotel I was restless and sat up praying most of the night. I read thought the scripture in James chapter 5 verse 14-16. It says that if anyone is sick to call together the elders of the church and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And a prayer offered in faith will make a sick person well.

We know that the elders of the church cannot gather in the ICU but we are asking that all of our Christan family and the Elders of all of these churches where my dad has served will gather and pray between 5:30 pm and 6 pm will we as a family anoint him with oil and ask in faith that he will be healed.

I know alot of churches have their services after 6 but we will have to leave the ICU at 6 pm and so that is why I am asking you to pray at 5:30 so that we can be with him at that time. Of course if you pray when your church meets thats great too. I hope the Procter Family will start praying at 5:30.


Though the years you all have allowed my dad to be part of your lives in a special way. As your pastor he has been there in the good times and the bad. We ask you to join us in this special time of prayer weather you are with your church family or at home alone. We we all be gathered in the name of Jesus and He will be present!

If you are reading this and are a member of a church with a prayer list and a wed. night prayer meeting and they would be willing to call his name "Rick Erwin" up to the lord in their service tonight we would appreciate it. If you have a group of friends, coworkers or neighbors that will gather at 5:30 that would be great. Please contact Tonya at the church office and let her know that your church or small group will be praying We want to keep a list of all the people who will be involved in this special prayer time. Her # 409 722 8097 or email her ont he church website www.procterbaptisthome.org

With the help of Tonya Hurt I will be contacting these churches today. Churches Dad pastored or was on music staff in seminary

Latania Baptist Church, Latania La
Eastside Baptist, Ranger Tx
FBC Dawson Tx
FBC Basile La
FBC Olney Tx
FBC Dumas Ark
Southside Baptist , Pine Bluff Ark
Procter Baptist, Port Arthur Tx

I will also be contacting other churches in SouthEast TX seeing how my parents have been a part of that community for over 20 years.

FBC Nederland - Adam Pardue Procter Family
FBC Hemphil - Aaron Pardue Procter Family
FBC Port Arthur
Memorial Baptist Port Arthur
Harvest Time - across the street from Procter
Mt. Sinai, Port Arthur
Triumph Church - Nederland
Triangle Baptist
Church on the Rock
Fellowship Baptist - Nederland

If you are a member of any of these churches or know someone who is, please call the church office and let them know about the special prayer time and at least ask them to pray in the wed. night prayer meeting.

Other churches I will contact.
FBC Alpine - mission church
FBC Dallas - I have many friends there
Lakeside Baptist Dallas - My church
FBC Woodvile tx, my moms home church - already spoke with Raymond Parker this morning.
Wilsure Baptist - Dallas - Gannon Sims Baylor/Procter Family on Staff
Denman Ave Baptist - Lufkin, Aunt Mon's Church
Aunt Pat is calling her church in Denham Springs LA
Uncle Mike is calling his Church in Baton Rouge LA
FBC Nome Tx, I was on staff there in college
Cornerstone - Rowlet tx, Friends
Mimosa Lane Baptist - Steffi and Tad's Church

I know that Amy Sadler will call her parents who will share this with their church too.

Ok if you are counting I think we are up to 30 churches that will be praying for Dad tonight. I know that many of you will add churches to this list.

Again I ask that if you can please pray specifically for these things at 5:30pm today.
Pray that his kidneys will start to function.
Pray for the swelling in the abdomen that they don't think is related to the kidney's??
Pray for the pneumonia to gone.
Pray of his mental health and his mood.
Pray for my mom and our family.
Pray for these Doctors, Pisters, Grossman, Sahay(said Say-Hi), Salahudeen, Haong.
Pray for my grandmother Mama Thelma (she's been at home waiting on news)
Pray for Tad and Beau while Steffi is away - that baby is really attached to mama.

If I think of anything else to add to this I'll update later in the day. I'll also update facebook.
If you are in Southeast Texas please make plans to attend the service at Procter tonight.

In Houston

I ended up driving to Houston instead of Nederland. Things are really bad here. Please pray for us. I will be trying to talk to the Doctors tomorrow and get some answers. Dad is in ICU. I got here too late and didn't get to see him tonight. I'll try to see him in the morning. We really need all of your prayers right now. Steffi is also coming tomorrow, pray for her safety. We will be updating Tonya at the church through out the day. I don't see how things started off so well and ended up this way.

Update on Dad!

They are starting dialysis this afternoon. I am headed to Nederland after school today. I'll be able to spend a little time with Mama Thelma and regroup before going to Houston to be with mom or give her a chance to come home. Please continue to pray that his Kidneys will kick in and start working on their own. I appreciate all the prayers.